Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-04-16
HOLLANDS FUTURE.
Only One Life Between It's independent
and Its Absorption by Germany,

and Its Absorption by Germany.
According to the provisions of the
Succession bill passed recently by the
Dutch Chamber Of Deputies, nothing
but the life of II girl less than seven
years of age stands between Holland
and inclusion in the federative state
which Bismarck has created. In TIE
contingency contemplated the BataNian
lowlandS would revert, after an indie
pendent existence of about three CEN
turics, to relations analogous to those
which they formerly sustained to the
holy Roman Empire. In security and
real dignity Holland would lose moth
ing by the change, for since the French
revolution she has been indebted for
autonomy less to her inherent power
than to the jealousics of her great
neighbors. Thenceforth she would be
guaranteed against foreign encroach-
mcnts-the German of the Platt-
Deutsch district is brother, not for
igner-whic she would retain at the
same time the large measure of local
self-government enjoyed by Bavaria
and SaNony. What Bismarck would
gain by the transaction is obvious
enough, since the acquisition Of Hol-
land maritime resources and East In
dian dependencies would at once trans
form the German Empire into a great
naval and colonial power, besides OPEN
ing the prospect Of large ultimate ac-
cessions through the Dutch-speaking
people in South Africa. If Germany is
ever to dispute with England the secp-
ter Of the seas, the absorption of the
Low Countries is an indispensable pre-
requisite.
So far as the Grand Duchy of Lux
cmburg is concencd-whch, it will be
remembered, has not a legislative, but
only II dynastc connection with Hol-
land-arrangements were made sew
eral years ago for its transfer, on the
death of King William Ill. to Duke
Adolphus, of Nassau, who was after
Sadowa dispossessed of his inherited
dOminions. The same Prince, as the
representative of the elder line Of Mas
sau. had put forward Il claim also 10
succession in the Low Countries, which
would have been acknowledged valid,
had the Salic rule prevailed. But OF
course there was no bar in Holland to
inheritance through females, since il
was through a daughter of Charles the
Bold that the Dutch provinces some
four centuries ago passed to the house
of Austria. Every one of the possible
heirs designated in the presentsSucces
sion bill is either a female or derive
title from female. Thus in case o.
the death of the young Princess Will
helmina the first i'll order Of success
sion will be the Kings sister Sophie
married to the Grand Duke of SAKE
Weimar- -Eisenach. 1t is noteworthy
however, that according to the bill the
Grand Duchess can not transmit to he
bbiylsdrSeR hf6E hPfE riShs oyer Holland, whicl
ants of the Dutch Princess Marianne
daughter of King William l., and mar
ried more than half a century ago to a
Prince of Prussia. As the latter's son,
the present Prince Albert of Prussia
has three boys. it will be seen that tn,
Low Countries are unlikely to escape
the house of Hohcnzollern. There j.
no reason to suppose that the precau
tons taken by the Succession bill
against the failure Of Prussian heir
will be called in play, and we need not
therefore, refer TO them in detail.
The hopes founded on these provis
ions may, no doubt, be dashed if tn,
child Princess Wilhelmina should grow
up and marry a member of some family
oppo.ed in interest to the Hohenzol
lelns. But measures will probably b,
taken 10 bring about union with on,
of her PruSSian kinSmen, three of whom
are nearly of her own age. Seldom
indeed, in recent times has roya
alliance been fraught with politica
consequences so important as thos
which from a German point of viev
might follow the marriage of the littl
girl, who, if she lives, will reign owe
four millions of subjects in Europe ant
thirty millions in the East lndies.-A
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